THE PERFORMERS Reviews

[LimelightMike]

Today is Wednesday, November 14, marking the official opening night for David West Read's new comedy, THE PERFORMERS, following previews that began October 23 at the Longacre Theatre. The play marks the Broadway bow for Read.

Set at the Adult Film Awards in Las Vegas, the cast features Henry Winkler, Cheyenne Jackson, Daniel Breaker, Ari Graynor, Jenni Barber and Alicia Silverstone. Evan Cabnet directs the 90-minute intermissionless comedy.

THE PERFORMERS, according to press notes, "is a romantic comedy about two high school friends (Cheyenne Jackson and Daniel Breaker) — and the women in their lives (Ari Graynor and Alicia Silverstone, respectively) — who reconnect at the Adult Film Awards in Las Vegas. When the night takes an unexpected turn and relationships are threatened, Chuck Wood (Henry Winkler), the hardest-working man in the business, steps in to lend a hand. Sex, love and Barry Manilow intersect in this comedy about the ups and downs and ins and outs of love."

Happy Opening, all!

[Holster2]

I had so much fun when I saw this. I hope the reviews treat the show kindly. It was a great time!

[uncageg]

I hope the reviews are good also. We really had a good time at this show. It's hysterical.

[Jordan Catalano]

Ari should get a Tony for this.

[MimiJudith]

I really hated this show. I will be very surprised if the reviews are decent.

[Wynbish]

Ari should be my best friend

[Play Esq.]

^ Just glad I'm not the only one...


I suppose "hate" may be too strong a word, but I found it all around a rather blah show: not good, not horrible; serviceable performances, but nothing profound; occasionally humorous, but never laugh-out-loud funny.

I don't see this doing too well with the critics.

[MimiJudith]

I found Ari Graynor to be extremely shrill and annoying. Sorry, but I thought her "comedic acting" in The Performers was really subpar. Jennifer Tilly should get royalties.

[americanboy99]

Graynor should certainly be nominated for her performance. She blows that role through the roof; it's a treasure to behold.

[egghumor]

tick... tick... tick...

[iluvtheatertrash]

Washington Post/Associated Press -- Mostly Positive

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/review-broadways-the-performers-is-a-sweet-look-at-love-despite-its-porn-world-setting/2012/11/14/575ef4c2-2ec1-11e2-b631-2aad9d9c73ac_story.html

[henrikegerman]

So, the Post feels compelled to quote this anomalously clean joke:

"Do you like White Russians?” one porn star asks another at a bar.

“Sure,” comes the reply. “I like white Russians, I like black Russians, I like half-Russians...”"

If that's an indication of how funny the play gets - clean or dirty - (and I take it it might be as the positive review all but starts with this joke) I'll stay home.

[nasty_khakis]

Henrik, I don't want to defend the show too much,because it's not perfect, but that White Russians joke isn't really the joke. When the character asks the set up question, you laugh because you KNOW what the response is going to be. The joke is more in the humorous situation than in "this is a great wittily-written gag."

[iluvtheatertrash]

There is a lot funnier material than that.

amNY - 3 stars

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/theater-review-the-performers-3-stars-1.4223322

[uncageg]

Yeah, a lot more. I say that if you are already thinking of seeing it, just go.

[Quiche2]

I enjoyed Breaker in SHREK. He was actually the highlight of the show for me. Is his performance in this show any good?

[Jordan Catalano]

I don't think your mom would want you to see this show.

[MamaQuiche22]

Quiche2 is time to go bed and leave the nice people alone. Grampa call and say no diddle time for you on trip if you don't start being good.

[songanddanceman2]

Hollywood Repoter - mixed on the play, raves for the cast http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/review/theater-review-performers-390442

[songanddanceman2]

Entertainment Weekly - A-
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20364394_20647988,00.html

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

I'd love to see Graynor get a nod for this. I have a feeling Brantley will flip over her.

[uncageg]

Just read Musto's review. He is just...annoying and he always has to throw some gay reference or comparison into everything.

[A Director]

This is from a Reader's Reviews at the NYT. "this will go down in the annals of broadway as another MOOSE MURDERS."

[frogs_fan85]

Here's the Times:

http://theater.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/theater/reviews/the-performers-with-henry-winkler-and-cheyenne-jackson.html?_r=0

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Ouch...

[NewYorkTheater]

I am surprised that many of the reviews are as positive as they are. If the newspaper reviewers were permitted to repeat some of the raunchy jokes (as I can do online below), the show might not strike their readers as quite as sweet and old-fashioned as some of them are making it out to be.


The Performers Review: Gag-worth Gags about Porno on Broadway